The aggrieved traders of White Sand Market in the Lagos Mainland local government, have called on the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to rescue them from vested interests who are determined to grab their precious market from them.
According to the leader of the group, Alhaja Sherifat Thanni, the call became necessary over continuous threats and abuse of court orders by the Mainland Chairman, Mrs Omolola Essien.
Alhaja Thanni explained that on the 12th of January, Justice Akinkunmi Idowu’s led court directed them to meet with the Chairman for further discussion on an amicable settlement.
However, Alhaja Thanni said the proposed meeting did not come to the limelight because she did not honour their letter.
The aggrieved traders had instituted the case before a Lagos State High Court, in a suit no LD/7078GCM/23, to seek justice.
The court after listening to their argument granted them an injunction restraining Lagos Mainland Local Government and Attorney General & Commissioner For Justice from taking over the market pending the determination of the suit.
Narrating their ordeal, Alhaja Thanni said trouble started in 2001, when the then LG authorities made a move to rebuild the market via the ones they built by themselves without any formal notice.
And the contractor failed to construct the road and the drainages then.
Alhaja Thanni said ever since they had been the one maintaining and managing the market collectively.
She further said that the council brought in another contractor in 2014 to re-do the drainage and they paid twenty two million naira to Sesan Ojasanya Construction company limited for the project.
Unfortunately, she said that the project was not done and was left for the traders to handle again.
“Now the council said they want to demolish the market again this year 2023. They said it was because of the drainage. And we are tired of their continuous extortion
“We are not tired of taking care of our market because it is our only means of livelihood,” she said.
The aggrieved traders in their appeal are calling on the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu to intervene by ensuring that the contractor, Sesan Ojasanya Construction company limited complete the drainage job they paid for.
They also want the Governor to ensure that the continuous threat to take over the market should stop.
